Professor Heather Smyth
Professor

Heather Smyth

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32469

Background

Professor Heather Smyth is a flavour chemist and sensory scientist who has been working with premium food and beverage products for more than twenty years. With a background in wine flavour chemistry, her expertise is in understanding consumer enjoyment of foods and beverages in terms of both sensory properties and composition.

Smyth has a special interest in describing and articulating food quality, understanding regional flavours of locally grown Australian produce, and modelling food flavour and textural properties using instrumental measurements. Smyth also specialises in researching how human physiology and psychology can impact sensory perception and therefore food choice.

Availability

Professor Heather Smyth is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Analytical chemistry Chemical Sciences Engineering Food chemistry and food sensory science Food sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Adelaide
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Adelaide

Research interests

  • Distinctive Australian Foods and Beverages

    Australia has the opportunity to be the supplier of premium foods into global markets but needs to go beyond traditional ‘clean and green’ positioning to secure sustainable high value market positions. Across all commodity sectors, there is the opportunity to further develop the Australian advantage through identifying and marketing distinctively Australian food products to receptive target markets, such that they are ‘reassuringly expensive’. Defining unique 'regional flavors' of Australian products is one approach to develop a point-of-difference in premium products. Another obvious way to add distinctiveness is to use ingredients which are sourced from uniquely Australian native plants. Projects that address these challenges and opportunities may broadly include (1) investigations that identify, validate, communicate and generate consumer value from the distinctive characteristics of foods and ingredients sourced from Australian agriculture, and (2) exploring how to develop food and ingredient industries based on the unique composition and characteristics of Australian native plants.

  • Next Generation Foods and Beverages

    Future foods will contain natural health-promoting components, such as plant phytonutrients (which act as antioxidants) with reduced fat, sugar and salt levels. The challenge for food companies is to develop healthier foods for the future without compromising on sensory properties and consumer enjoyment. In many cases, it is currently not possible to dramatically reduce the level of fat, sugar and salt because of a loss in mouthfeel and flavour as well as structural integrity. Increasingly, food companies are looking for alternative means in which to structure food that allows it to have superior nutritional value whilst having favourable sensory properties. Projects in this area may include (1) exploring new ingredients and processes to identify novel ways of delivering desirable sensory properties in processed and minimally processed products, and (2) investigating human sensory perception, physiology and mouth behaviour, to understand how to deliver equivalent sensory experiences in modified products.

  • Understanding Human Sensory Perception

    Enjoyment of food is highly dependent on an individual's ability to sense the properties and components of food. The human sensory system is highly complex, with different sense organs simultaneously relaying nerve signals that activate multiple parts of the brain. Sensory perception is further complicated by our behaviour (such as the way we chew) and our physiology (such as our saliva), not to mention psychological, biological and environmental factors. Food companies are keen to understand the interaction between the food product and the consumer such that they can design nutritious foods that meet and exceed customer requirements and expectations. Research in this area may include (1) understanding the interaction of food and beverages with physiological factors such as human saliva, and (2) exploring the natural variation in an ethnically diverse population in terms of sensory acuity, physiology, mouth behaviour and consequently perception.

Research impacts

Professor Smyth works closely with the food and beverage industries to discover what sensory qualities consumers want and supports the design, production and marketing of superior products with increased consumer value. Current projects involve specialty coffee, beer, wine, native plant foods, cocoa, premium beef and seafood, tropical fruits, cereals, dairy products and some processed products and snack foods.

Smyth is also heavily involved in training industry and researchers in the application of flavour chemistry, sensory and consumer evaluation methods.

Search Professor Heather Smyth’s works on UQ eSpace

228 works between 2003 and 2025
All (228) Journal Article (103) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (119) Book (1) Other Outputs (1)

81 - 100 of 228 works

2021

Conference Publication

Sensory and physical effects of ingredient modifications in model emulsions

Ngo, Jasmine, Stokes, Jason R. and Smyth, Heather E. (2021). Sensory and physical effects of ingredient modifications in model emulsions. SenseAsia, Online, 5-7 Dec 2021.

Sensory and physical effects of ingredient modifications in model emulsions

2021

Conference Publication

Bunya nut as a healthy and versatile gluten-free source for flour production

Moura Nadolny, Jaqueline, Best, Odette, Flanagan, Bernadine, Shewan, Heather, Smyth, Heather E. and Stokes, Jason (2021). Bunya nut as a healthy and versatile gluten-free source for flour production. 6th Food Structures, Digestion and Health Conference, Virtual, 16-19 November 2021.

Bunya nut as a healthy and versatile gluten-free source for flour production

2021

Journal Article

Tribology and QCM-D approaches provide mechanistic insights into red wine mouthfeel, astringency sub-qualities and the role of saliva

Wang, Shaoyang, Olarte Mantilla, Sandra M., Smith, Paul A., Stokes, Jason R. and Smyth, Heather E. (2021). Tribology and QCM-D approaches provide mechanistic insights into red wine mouthfeel, astringency sub-qualities and the role of saliva. Food Hydrocolloids, 120 106918, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106918

Tribology and QCM-D approaches provide mechanistic insights into red wine mouthfeel, astringency sub-qualities and the role of saliva

2021

Journal Article

Exploring the relationships between oral sensory physiology and oral processing with mid infrared spectra of saliva

Ni, Dongdong, Smyth, Heather E., Gidley, Michael J. and Cozzolino, Daniel (2021). Exploring the relationships between oral sensory physiology and oral processing with mid infrared spectra of saliva. Food Hydrocolloids, 120 106896, 106896. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106896

Exploring the relationships between oral sensory physiology and oral processing with mid infrared spectra of saliva

2021

Conference Publication

Bioactivities of Kakadu plum in meat systems

Beya, Michel M., Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Smyth, Heather E., Netzel, Michael E. and Hoffman, Louwrens C. (2021). Bioactivities of Kakadu plum in meat systems. Joint virtual Workshop between The ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods (ARC ITTC UAF), Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and The SARChI Research Programme in Phytochemical Food Network to Improve the Nutritional Quality for Consumers, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa, Virtual, 24-25 August 2021.

Bioactivities of Kakadu plum in meat systems

2021

Journal Article

Rice bran makes a healthy and tasty traditional Indonesian goat meatball, ‘Bakso’

Sujarwanta, Rio Olympias, Beya, Michel Mubiayi, Utami, Desi, Jamhari, Jamhari, Suryanto, Edi, Agus, Ali, Smyth, Heather Eunice and Hoffman, Louwrens Christiaan (2021). Rice bran makes a healthy and tasty traditional Indonesian goat meatball, ‘Bakso’. Foods, 10 (8) 1940, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/foods10081940

Rice bran makes a healthy and tasty traditional Indonesian goat meatball, ‘Bakso’

2021

Conference Publication

Future flavours from the past: sensory analysis of fruit from an Australian Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land

Fyfe, Selina, Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Schirra, Horst Joachim and Smyth, Heather (2021). Future flavours from the past: sensory analysis of fruit from an Australian Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land. 14th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium: Sustainable Sensory Science, Online, 9-12 August 2021.

Future flavours from the past: sensory analysis of fruit from an Australian Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land

2021

Journal Article

Provenance and uniqueness in the emerging botanical and natural food industries—definition, issues and tools

Smyth, Heather, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Cozzolino, Daniel (2021). Provenance and uniqueness in the emerging botanical and natural food industries—definition, issues and tools. Food Analytical Methods, 14 (12), 2511-2523. doi: 10.1007/s12161-021-02079-0

Provenance and uniqueness in the emerging botanical and natural food industries—definition, issues and tools

2021

Conference Publication

Metabolite differences in the Green Plum (Buchanania obovata) fruit occur through maturation and ripening and between geographical locations

Fyfe, Selina, Smyth, Heather E, Schmitt-Kopplin, Philippe, Harir, Mourad, Rychlik, Michael, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Schirra, Horst Joachim (2021). Metabolite differences in the Green Plum (Buchanania obovata) fruit occur through maturation and ripening and between geographical locations. Metabolomics 2021 Online: The 17th Annual Conference of the Metabolomics Society, Online, 22-24 June 2021.

Metabolite differences in the Green Plum (Buchanania obovata) fruit occur through maturation and ripening and between geographical locations

2021

Conference Publication

Mechanistic insights into red wine mouthfeel, astringency sub-qualities and the role of saliva

Wang, Shaoyang, Smyth, Heather, Olarte Mantilla, Sandra and Stokes, Jason (2021). Mechanistic insights into red wine mouthfeel, astringency sub-qualities and the role of saliva. Crush - The Grape and Wine Science Symposium, Adelaide, SA Australia, June 2021.

Mechanistic insights into red wine mouthfeel, astringency sub-qualities and the role of saliva

2021

Journal Article

The effect of maturity and tissue on the ability of mid infrared spectroscopy to predict the geographical origin of banana (Musa Cavendish)

Zhang, Long, Huang, Yichao, Sun, Fengjiang, Chen, Da, Netzel, Michael, Smyth, Heather E., Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Deng, Yongfeng, Fang, Mingliang and Cozzolino, Daniel (2021). The effect of maturity and tissue on the ability of mid infrared spectroscopy to predict the geographical origin of banana (Musa Cavendish). International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 56 (6), 2621-2627. doi: 10.1111/ijfs.14960

The effect of maturity and tissue on the ability of mid infrared spectroscopy to predict the geographical origin of banana (Musa Cavendish)

2021

Journal Article

Nutritional analysis, volatile composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Australian green ants (Oecophylla smaragdina)

Alagappan, Shanmugam, Chaliha, Mridusmita, Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Fuller, Steve, Hoffman, Louwrens  C., Netzel, Gabriele, Weber, Nadine, Rychlik, Michael, Cozzolino, Daniel, Smyth, Heather  E. and Olarte Mantilla, Sandra  M. (2021). Nutritional analysis, volatile composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Australian green ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). Future Foods, 3 100007, 100007. doi: 10.1016/j.fufo.2020.100007

Nutritional analysis, volatile composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Australian green ants (Oecophylla smaragdina)

2021

Journal Article

Exploring relationships between satiation, perceived satiety, and plant‐based snack food features

Ni, Dongdong, Gunness, Purnima, Smyth, Heather E. and Gidley, Michael J. (2021). Exploring relationships between satiation, perceived satiety, and plant‐based snack food features. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 56 (10) ijfs.15102, 5340-5351. doi: 10.1111/ijfs.15102

Exploring relationships between satiation, perceived satiety, and plant‐based snack food features

2021

Journal Article

Towards personalised saliva spectral fingerprints: comparison of mid infrared spectra of dried and whole saliva samples

Ni, Dongdong, Smyth, Heather E., Gidley, Michael J. and Cozzolino, Daniel (2021). Towards personalised saliva spectral fingerprints: comparison of mid infrared spectra of dried and whole saliva samples. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 253 119569, 119569. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.119569

Towards personalised saliva spectral fingerprints: comparison of mid infrared spectra of dried and whole saliva samples

2021

Journal Article

Can infrared spectroscopy detect adulteration of Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) dry powder with synthetic ascorbic acid?

Cozzolino, Daniel, Phan, Anh Dao T., Aker, Saleha, Smyth, Heather E. and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2021). Can infrared spectroscopy detect adulteration of Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) dry powder with synthetic ascorbic acid?. Food Analytical Methods, 14 (9), 1936-1942. doi: 10.1007/s12161-021-02031-2

Can infrared spectroscopy detect adulteration of Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) dry powder with synthetic ascorbic acid?

2021

Journal Article

Dynamic Tribology Protocol (DTP): response of salivary pellicle to dairy protein interactions validated against sensory perception

Fan, Nengneng, Shewan, Heather M., Smyth, Heather E., Yakubov, Gleb E. and Stokes, Jason R. (2021). Dynamic Tribology Protocol (DTP): response of salivary pellicle to dairy protein interactions validated against sensory perception. Food Hydrocolloids, 113 106478, 106478. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106478

Dynamic Tribology Protocol (DTP): response of salivary pellicle to dairy protein interactions validated against sensory perception

2021

Journal Article

Correction: Shelat, K.J.; et al. Overall Nutritional and Sensory Profile of Different Species of Australian Wattle Seeds (Acacia spp.): Potential Food Sources in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions. Foods 2019, 8, 482

Shelat, Kinnari J., Adiamo, Oladipupo Q., Mantilla, Sandra M. Olarte, Smyth, Heather E., Tinggi, Ujang, Hickey, Sarah, Rühmann, Broder, Sieber, Volker and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2021). Correction: Shelat, K.J.; et al. Overall Nutritional and Sensory Profile of Different Species of Australian Wattle Seeds (Acacia spp.): Potential Food Sources in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions. Foods 2019, 8, 482. Foods, 10 (3) 650, 1-1. doi: 10.3390/foods10030650

Correction: Shelat, K.J.; et al. Overall Nutritional and Sensory Profile of Different Species of Australian Wattle Seeds (Acacia spp.): Potential Food Sources in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions. Foods 2019, 8, 482

2021

Journal Article

Feeding unsaleable carrots to lambs increased performance and carcass characteristics while maintaining meat quality

Forwood, Daniel L., Holman, Benjamin W.B., Hopkins, David L., Smyth, Heather E., Hoffman, Louwrens C., Chaves, Alex V. and Meale, Sarah J. (2021). Feeding unsaleable carrots to lambs increased performance and carcass characteristics while maintaining meat quality. Meat Science, 173 108402, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108402

Feeding unsaleable carrots to lambs increased performance and carcass characteristics while maintaining meat quality

2021

Journal Article

Unlocking the secrets of kernels using near-infrared spectroscopy

Bobasa, Eshetu, Netzel, Michael, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Smyth, Heather, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Cozzolino, Daniel (2021). Unlocking the secrets of kernels using near-infrared spectroscopy. Applied Spectroscopy, 75 (7), 1-5. doi: 10.1177/0003702821992136

Unlocking the secrets of kernels using near-infrared spectroscopy

2021

Journal Article

The use of a micro near infrared portable instrument to predict bioactive compounds in a wild harvested fruit—Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)

Bobasa, Eshetu, Phan, Anh Dao T., Netzel, Michael, Smyth, Heather E., Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Cozzolino, Daniel (2021). The use of a micro near infrared portable instrument to predict bioactive compounds in a wild harvested fruit—Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana). Sensors, 21 (4) 1413, 1-10. doi: 10.3390/s21041413

The use of a micro near infrared portable instrument to predict bioactive compounds in a wild harvested fruit—Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2029
    ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    National Passionfruit Breeding and Evaluation Program
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Genetics of Fruit Sensory Preferences (HIA project administered by DAF)
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Plant based foods: Towards sustainable and acceptable meat analogues
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Genetics of Fruit Sensory Preferences
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Reduced enteric emissions of Grainfed Wagyu Cattle through feeding of red Asparagopsis for 300 days - Sensory Evaluation (AACo administered MLA grant)
    A. A. COMPANY PTY. LTD.
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Measurement of pH in high intramuscular fat samples and existing technology validation
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Emulsion gels and sensory perception
    Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Plant-based meat analogues
    Motif FoodWorks
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    National Papaya Breeding and Evaluation Program (Hort Innovation Grant administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    ARC Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Improving the efficiency of Kakadu Plum value chains to grow a robust and sustainable industry
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    A situational analysis for developing a Rice industry in Northern Australia
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Advanced Nanoparticle, Colloid and Microparticle Characterisation and Precision Engineering Nanosystems Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Dietary manipulation of pork fatty acid profiles to develop an Australian pork flavour signature relevant to Chinese consumers
    Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Food structure design
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Value added bakery products using native plants as functional ingredients
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    Naturally Nutritious
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Australian native foods as natural additives to improve quality and shelf life of frozen meals
    Research Connections
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Understanding Coffee Quality
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2018
    Agents of change: Transforming the food industry for Australia, Asia and beyond
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Chemical methods to underpin an understanding of coffee quality
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    Use of plant derived compounds to condition piglet intake at weaning and reduce post-weaning use of therapeutics
    CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Tactical Research Fund: Developing a dynamic regional brand - focus on flavour
    Fisheries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Prevention of muddy taints in farmed barramundi
    Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Heather Smyth is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Heather Smyth directly for media enquiries about:

  • aroma
  • beef
  • coffee
  • consumer research
  • flavour
  • food quality
  • human senses
  • premium food
  • sensory science
  • smell
  • taste
  • taste panels
  • wine

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